42 × 42 pallet: dimensions, weight and specs
A 42 × 42 in pallet (1067 × 1067 mm) is a square pallet used mainly for paint and coatings, telecom equipment and chemicals. It is one of the six ISO 6780 footprints. The usual build is a 3-stringer wood pallet about 4.75 to 5 in tall.
- Type
- Wood stringer
- Footprint
- 42.00 × 42.00 in
- Height
- 4.75 in
- Lumber
- 13.7 bd ft
- Est. weight
- 44 lb (20 kg)
- Fasteners
- 84
Every dimension is editable. Get the drawing free, or request a quote.
Dimensions
| Inches | 42 × 42 in |
|---|---|
| Millimetres | 1067 × 1067 mm |
| Centimetres | 106.7 × 106.7 cm |
| Feet | 3.5 × 3.5 ft |
| Footprint area | 12.25 sq ft (1.138 m²) |
Pallets per floor (single stacked)
| Equipment | Straight | Turned | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 ft dry van | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| 48 ft dry van | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| 26 ft box truck | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| 20 ft container | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 40 ft container | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| 45 ft high cube | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Straight = length along the trailer. Floor positions only, with no gaps for load bars or overhang. Weight often limits first. Open the calculator
The 42 × 42 in pallet (1067 × 1067 mm) is a square pallet used mostly by paint and coatings, telecom and chemical shippers. It is one of the six footprints in ISO 6780, and industry lists usually rank it the second most common North American size after the 48 × 40.
What are the dimensions of a 42 × 42 pallet?
A 42 × 42 pallet is 42 in (1067 mm) on each side. Because it is square, the size name does not tell you which way the stringers run, so the drawing or spec has to. Overall height is usually about 4.75 to 5 in (121 to 127 mm) for a stringer build with 5/8 in or 3/4 in decks on 3-1/2 in stringers.
Typical build at 42 × 42
The common construction is a notched 3-stringer pallet, similar to a GMA pallet scaled to a square footprint.
| Component | Typical spec |
|---|---|
| Top deckboards | 7 boards: 2 × 5-1/2 in leads + 5 × 3-1/2 in, 5/8 in thick, 42 in long |
| Bottom deckboards | 5 boards: 2 × 5-1/2 in + 3 × 3-1/2 in |
| Stringers | 3 × 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 × 42 in (2 × 4 softwood) or 1-3/8 in hardwood |
| Notches | 2 per stringer, giving partial 4-way entry |
| Overall height | 4.75 in with 5/8 in decks |
The 42 × 42 template uses 1-1/2 in SPF stringers with notches starting 5-3/4 in from each end. Open it in the designer to change board counts, species or notches. Heavier loads call for more top boards, thicker decks or a fourth stringer.
How much does a 42 × 42 pallet weigh?
The build above uses about 13.7 board feet. That gives an estimated weight of about 30 lb (14 kg) in dry softwood, about 40 lb (18 kg) in kiln-dried hardwood, and up to about 60 lb (27 kg) in green hardwood. Real weights depend on species, moisture content and board count. See pallet weight.
How much can a 42 × 42 pallet hold?
Capacity depends on the design and the support condition. A 42 × 42 has shorter spans than a 48 × 40 in both directions, which helps stiffness, but the rating still has to come from the manufacturer, usually a PDS analysis or ASTM D1185 testing. Racked capacity is the lowest of the three ratings. A pallet of paint cans loads its deckboards at points under each can, so give the supplier the container size and layout, not just the total weight.
Who uses 42 × 42 pallets?
- Paint and coatings. Gallon and 5-gallon containers tile well on a square deck.
- Telecom. Equipment and cable reels have long shipped on this size.
- Chemicals. Pails and some drum loads. For four 55-gallon drums, most shippers step up to 48 × 48 or 44 × 44.
It is also used in Europe and Asia as the ISO 1067 × 1067 footprint, though much less than the regional standards.
Fit in trucks and containers
Two 42 × 42 pallets side by side take 84 in of a trailer's width, which leaves unused width in a standard 53 ft dry van (about 98 to 100 in inside). The table above shows straight counts for trailers and containers; square pallets have no turned option. If trailer cube is the constraint, compare against 48 × 40 with the pallets per truck calculator.
Related sizes
- 44 × 44: slightly larger square, for drums and bulk bags.
- 48 × 48: the drum pallet.
- 40 × 40: dairy.
- 1100 × 1100: the Asian square standard, about 43.3 in.
Specifying a 42 × 42 pallet for a quote
State the stringer direction on a square pallet, then:
- Deckboard count, width and thickness, top and bottom.
- Stringer count, size and notch spec (or block construction for full 4-way).
- Lumber species, new or recycled, green or kiln-dried.
- Load: weight, container type and layout, stacking height, and racking.
- ISPM 15 heat treatment if exported.
The RFQ checklist lists the rest.
Drawing and parts listEdit in the design app
42×42 square template, generated from the model. Every dimension is editable.
Pallet
- Type
- Wood stringer
- Footprint
- 42.00 × 42.00 in
- Overall height
- 4.75 in
- Classification
- 42.00 x 42.00, Stringer-Class, Double-Face Non-Reversible, Flush, Partial 4-Way, Reusable, New Manufacture
Construction
- Build
- Wood stringer pallet
- Wings
- Flush
- Top deck
- 7 boards × 0.625 in (5/8); leads 5.50 in (5-1/2), interior 3.50 in (3-1/2)
- Bottom deck
- 5 boards × 0.625 in (5/8); interior grouped between notches
- Stringers
- 3 × 1.50 in (1-1/2) wide × 3.50 in (3-1/2) tall
- Notches
- Partial 4-way: 1.25 in (1-1/4) deep × 9.00 in (9) long, 5.75 in (5-3/4) from each end, R 0.75 in (3/4)
- Lumber
- Spf, Standard & Btr, green, new
- Fasteners
- 84 × 2.25 in (2-1/4) helical, 0.112 in wire, per Uniform Standard Table 5
Requirements
- Load
- 2,000 lb, uniform
- Handling
- forklift, pallet jack
- Racking
- Not racked
- Floor stack
- 1 high
- Use
- Reusable / multi-trip
- Environment
- Standard
- ISPM-15
- Domestic only
- Certified rating
- Not required
- Food contact / fire
- No / no listing
Order
- Quantity
- Not specified
- Ship to
- —
- Needed by
- —
Frequently asked questions
Is 42x42 an ISO pallet size?
Yes. 1067 × 1067 mm (42 × 42 in) is one of the six footprints in ISO 6780, listed for North America, Europe and Asia.
Why is the 42x42 pallet used for paint?
Square footprints suit round containers such as paint pails and cans, and the size became an industry convention in paint, coatings and telecom. Many paint manufacturers and retailers still specify it.
How much does a 42x42 pallet weigh?
A typical 3-stringer build has about 13 to 14 board feet of lumber, so it weighs roughly 30 lb in dry softwood up to about 60 lb in green hardwood (estimates).
Is a 42x42 pallet 4-way?
A notched stringer 42 × 42 is partial 4-way: forklifts can enter from all four sides, but pallet jacks only from the two ends. Block-style 42 × 42 pallets are full 4-way.
Sources and references
Related
- SizesUS pallet sizes: the standard North American dimensionsThe standard US pallet is 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm), the GMA pallet, used for grocery, retail and most general freight. Other common North American sizes are 42 × 42, 48 × 48, 48 × 42, 40 × 40, 48 × 45, 44 × 44, 36 × 36 and 48 × 36 in, each tied to particular industries.
- Sizes44 × 44 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 44 × 44 in pallet (1118 × 1118 mm) is a square North American size used for drums, bulk bags (FIBCs) and chemicals. It fits two across an ISO shipping container, which a 48 × 48 does not. Typical wood builds are 3 or 4 stringers, about 4.75 to 5 in tall.
- Sizes48 × 48 pallet (drum pallet): dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 48 in pallet (1219 × 1219 mm) is the standard drum pallet. It holds four 55-gallon drums in a 2 × 2 pattern and is also common for bulk bags and totes. Typical builds use 4 stringers and 3/4 in top decks, and weigh roughly 45 to 90 lb.
- TypesStringer pallet: construction, dimensions and when to use oneA stringer pallet is a wooden pallet whose deckboards are nailed across two or more continuous beams called stringers, usually three on a 48 × 40 in pallet. It is 2-way entry, or partial 4-way when the stringers are notched. It is the most common and cheapest pallet design in North America.
- StandardsISO 6780: the six international pallet sizesISO 6780:2003 sets principal dimensions and tolerances of flat pallets for intercontinental handling. It recognizes six sizes: 1200 × 800, 1200 × 1000, 1219 × 1016 (48 × 40 in), 1165 × 1165, 1067 × 1067 and 1100 × 1100 mm, and covers openings, chamfers, wings, flatness and distortion.
- IndustriesPallets for the chemical and plastics industryChemical loads (drums, pails, IBCs and 25 kg bags) need heavier, tighter-decked pallets than grocery. Europe uses the CP1 to CP9 block pallets; North America uses 48 × 48 in drum pallets, 42 × 42 and 44 × 44 in sizes and heavy 48 × 40s. Deck gaps and load type matter as much as weight.
More in North American sizes
- Sizes48 × 40 pallet (GMA): dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 40 in pallet (1219 × 1016 mm) is the North American standard, also called the GMA pallet. The typical build is a partial 4-way stringer pallet about 4.75 in tall with 7 top and 5 bottom deckboards on 3 notched stringers. Pooled 48 × 40 block pallets (CHEP, PECO) share the same footprint.
- Sizes48 × 42 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 42 in pallet (1219 × 1067 mm) is a North American size used mainly for chemicals and beverages. It is built like a GMA pallet with 42 in deckboards: typically 3 notched stringers, 7 top and 5 bottom boards, about 4.75 to 5 in tall.
- Sizes40 × 40 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 40 × 40 in pallet (1016 × 1016 mm) is a square North American size associated with the dairy industry. It is usually a 3-stringer wood pallet about 4.75 in tall, weighing roughly 27 to 56 lb depending on species and moisture.
- Sizes48 × 45 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 45 in pallet (1219 × 1143 mm) is the North American automotive size, used for parts shipments and returnable containers. Wood versions are built like a GMA pallet with 45 in deckboards; plastic 48 × 45 pallets are common in closed automotive loops.
- Sizes36 × 36 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 36 × 36 in pallet (914 × 914 mm) is a small square North American pallet used mainly in beverage distribution and for compact loads. A typical build has 5 top and 3 bottom deckboards on 3 stringers, about 4.75 in tall, and weighs roughly 20 to 41 lb.
- Sizes48 × 36 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 36 in pallet (1219 × 914 mm) is a North American size used for beverages, roofing shingles and packaged paper. It is usually a 3-stringer wood pallet with 36 in deckboards, about 4.75 in tall and roughly 27 to 56 lb.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 699 words.